Electric soldering iron



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Patented May 21,` 1929.

. WILLIAM'L. LOFTHOUSE, l0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC soLnEnING mon.Y

Application filed December 22, 1927, SerialvNo. 241,811. Renewed -April 1, 1929.

i My invention is an electric soldering iron of the type in whichsolder is melted and maintained in the molten conditionby means of electric heating elements.

An object of my invention is the construction of an electric soldering iron in which solder in the form of pellets or the like may be placed in a container and passed downwardly to the soldering point of the iron, and in such downward movement the solder is subjected to electric heating units, thereby flowing into thepoint in the form of molten solder. I

Another object of my invention is the construction of a soldering iron having a receptaele in the point for molten solder, and with a valve, manually controllable, to run the solder from this receptacle .through a duct to the operating end of the iron.

A further object of my invention isthe association in combination of a soldering iron having a handleportion with a chamber therein for solder in the form of pellets, or the like, and with a tubular section with r electric heating coils wound thereabout, so

that the pellets will melt when passing downwardly through this tubular section to the iron point of the-soldering tool. This,

then, has the receptacle for the molten solder controlled by a valve. This `valve is preferably operated by a crank which is journaled in the point and the crank is controlled by an operating rod with a knob positioned adjacent the handle.

My soldering iron is particularly adapted for work in which the implement is held vertically or inlan inclined position, with the operative end of the point down; and by means of the valve I may control the issue of solder, either in one or a few drops at a time, or I may deposit a ribbon solder for soldering seams. c

My invention and thevarious detail i1n. provements will be apparent from the following description and drawings, 1n which: v Figure 1 is a side elevation of the iron.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows. j

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows through the crank, the journal an'd the point.v

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the-line 4-4 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.-

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 in the'direction of the arrows, showing the valve in theAv openuposi;

tion.

The soldering tool has an outer casing 11, the lower portion 12 of this being tubular and imperforate, and a higher section 13 being tubular and having perforations 14.

tween the casingand the solder holder there` is a layer of heat insulating material such as asbestos 22. In order to obtain a cool hand hold the wire coil 23 is wound on the hand grip.

The iron or point 24 has an upper intcrnally threaded section 25 which engages threads on the section 12 of the Casin 11, and has an internal receptacle 26 whic at its upper end, is screw-threaded as indicated at 2 and in this section 27, the threaded end 28 of the solder holder 16 is threaded. The iron has a tapered end 29 with a 30-leading therethrough.

In one side of the iron there is an opening 31-with a journal bushing 32 screwed therein. Through this journal bushing there extends a crank shaft 33 having suitable pack.- ing 34 and a packing gland 35. This shaft has an interior crank 36 on which there is duct hooked an eye 37 of the valve stem 38, this -1 stem having" a valve plug 39 thereon adapted `to fit in a-valve seat 40; the lower end 41 a head 4 8 and. there is a compression spring 49 (n the rod betweenA the bracket and the hea .f The chamber of the iron is filled by removing the covericap 50 which has a flange 51 extending overthel ends of the hand grip an external crank 44 on the crank f -13 of the casing 11. The operating rod has section 1li-of the casing 11 and the end of the tubular section of the chamber 21. This has a pressed tit at the section as iny dicated at 52 and has perforations 58. A

finger grip 54 maybe utilized to insert and remove the cap. Electric lea-ds 55 for the heating units pass through the heat insulating material between the casing v11 and the solder chamber. I

The manner of using and functioning of the iron is substantially as follows:

It is intended that rather coarse pellets.

of solder be inserted in the chamber 21 by removing the cap 50, which is thenreplaced. The electric current heats the wires of the heating unit so Ithat when the iron is tilted or held' with the point down, lthesolder is melted and the molten solder drops into the receptacle 26 of the point.' -While the solder is melting, the valve is kept closed as illustrated in Fig. 2. l7When sullicient molten solder has accumulated and the point of the iron is sullicientlyi hot, byA conduction of heat from the heating unit the valve may be operated to open by pressing downwardly 0n the head48 of the operating rod 45, which action draws the valve plug upwardly in thev position shown in Fig. 5, thus allowing solder -to pass outwardly through the duct 30.

l It is obvious that by proper manipulation ofthe valve that a small amount ofsolder may be deposited on the .work in hand, or a continuous ribbon of soldermay be deposited for soldering seams. It is also to be lunderstood that instead of using pellets of solder, solder wire may be inserted. through the chamber 21 and into the heatingsection` of the solder holder 16. The solder manifestly may be in any suitable form. The heat developed isradiated through the perforations 14 of the section 13 of theV casing and, moreover, on account of the cool solder being in the chamber 21 the hand grip part of the iron does not become excessively hot. It will also be noted that the crank shaft may be readily assembled with the point and also that the different elements of the iron may be readily disassembled and assemblcd, one relative to the other.

Various changes lmay be made in theprinciples of my invention without departing from the spiritV thereof, as set forth in the description, vdrawingsA and claims.

I claim:

l. A soldering iron comprising 'in' com-' vbination a point having a receptacle for molten solder and a discharge duct in alignment therewith, said point having a. lateral opening with a journalbushing fitted therein, a crank shaft journaled insaid bushing having an internal crank with avalve stem connected thereto, said stem having a valve plug to close the said duct, aY handle. connected to the point, means in the handleto melt solder, and means on the outside ofthe handle tol operate the saidcrank shaft.

2. A soldering iron, as claimed in claim 1,`the means to operate 'the'crank shaft coinprising a bracket mounted on the handle having a guide opening therethrough, an operating rod slidably mounted 1n said-opening, said `rod beingconnected to an external crank on the crank shaft.

3'. A soldering iron having a tubular casing with a tubular solder holder concentric therein, a point Vhaving a threadedconnectionl to the casing and a threaded connection to the lower end of the solderholder, said point having a receptacle for molten solder' .with a 'discharge duct therefrom, a valve ing unit inthe form of a coil on the Vlower part of the solder holder, a partition at one end of said unit, an insulating filling between the casingandthe solder holder above l .the partition, a cap forming a. closure for the upper part of the-'solder'holden alhol-` i low soldering point .having a receptacle for molten solder connected to the casing and to Athe solder holder having a valve therein,

and 'means on theexterior of the casing to.

operate said valve.

'5. In a soldering iron, a receptacle for molten solder, a duct leading therefrom with a valve seat at the duct,

saidpoint having a lateral opening, a bushing mounted therein, a crank shaft journaled in said bushing and having an internal crank, a. stem connected to the crank having a valve plug thereon, means to Vflow molten solder into the said receptacle, and means connected to the -crank shaft to operate the stem. A 6. In a soldering iron, as claimed in claim opening with a button mounted therein, the said button being adapted to engage. the end ofthe crankand prevent disconnection of the valve stem andthe crank.

In testimony whereof I havel signed my name to this specification. p

' VYILLIAM L. LOFTHOUSE.

vpoint having av l '5, the point having a recess opposite.`the said 

